More fun at the Nature & Science Center!

This morning we took another trip to the Nature and Science Center. This trip was very special because 1) Grammy and Dennis got to go with us! and 2) Oliver was able to trade some of the cool things he found! We had to wait an hour for the trade counter to open, so we took our time exploring the park and seeing the animals.


This hawk is apparently pretty cantankerous -- he attacked the keeper's shoe when the guy was hosing out his cage.




Then it was time to visit the trade counter. Oliver brought a cicada, a conch shell, a freshwater clam shell, a shell fossil, and a bird feather. He earned points for everything except the feather -- new migratory laws prohibit trading any type of bird-related item.


Mr. Mike, the trader, was very helpful and knowledgeable, and I was impressed with Oliver's ability to sit still and listen for almost 30 minutes! He earned a total of 115 points, which he had the option of saving, or using them immediately to trade for another item.


The first two times we visited the fossil room, Oliver told me he wanted to earn enough points to take home a cow skull -- worth 500 points. I asked him if he wanted to save his 115 points and bring in more fossils, shells, and bugs to earn that cow skull. He thought for a minute, looked around, and then (thanks to Daddy!) he picked out this neato deer antler instead! It has a place of honor in his "special" basket in his room, and I hope he'll remember for a long time what a fun morning this was. :-)